Katy Perry’s new album Prism is very bad. We’re not just talking about the music; it’s bad for the environment, according to Australian Customs officials, who have deemed the record a “biosecurity concern”.
Well, to be more specific, the album artwork is made of seedpaper, and it comes with instructions to “spread the light” by planting it. Customs authorities, however, fear that this could introduce an invasive species of plant, violating our strict quarantine controls. While domestic versions of the album include harmless seeds for the Swan River daisy, plenty of international versions are making their way into stores — and landscapes — further afield. Australian biosecurity officers are thus quarantining the international versions and evaluating their invasive potential.
It sounds funny, but it’s not. (OK, it’s a little funny.) Invasive species are a big deal to Australia’s uniquely isolated ecosystems. From the hundreds of millions of rabbits to the kudzu growing up the walls, invasive species are not only hard to control, they are nearly impossible to get rid of. Kind of like Katy Perry herself. [The Guardian]